Breadcrumb
Alumni Updates
Alessandro Bruno
Geography, 2012
Life since Alessandro's days studying Geography and Chinese Studies at Humboldt has been a bit of an adventure! He's swapped the redwoods for the UK, where he currently works as an Executive Assistant and Project Manager in the Vice-Chancellor’s Office at the University for the Creative Arts (UCA). It turns out that the analytical mindset and curiosity he developed during my geographical research came in incredibly handy when navigating complex university operations and digital projects.
When Alessandro is not keeping things moving on campus, he tends to stay pretty active. He's developed a massive appreciation for food science—whether that’s mastering authentic sourdough, experimenting with fermentation, or prepping high-protein meals to fuel a pretty disciplined fitness routine. On the complete opposite end of the spectrum, he's also an automotive enthusiast with a love for amateur motorsport, so you can occasionally find him working on cars or researching track days.
Living and working in the UK has been a fantastic chapter, and he'd love to connect with any fellow Humboldt alumni who have made the leap across the pond, or anyone working in higher education!
Michael Stockstill
Journalism, 1971
Michael published the second book on the history of the planning and development of the Irvine Ranch in Orange County, California. Title “Irvine Ranch Fulfilling the Vision 1977-2025”
Nick De Anda
Music, 2023
Nick recently made his on-screen debut as a featured extra on the fifth season of Abbott Elementary on ABC and Hacks on HBO. He shares scenes as a background musician with lead actresses Sheryl Lee Ralph and Jean Smart. You can spot him playing guitar in the season finale of Abbott, "Miami", and episodes 1 and 9 of the final season of Hacks.
With the assistance of his teaching experience at Humboldt and abroad, Nick has been tasked with 12 students at Surf City Music School in Westminster, California. He continues to volunteer teaching veterans at his own branch in Orange County with Guitars 4 Vets and has now graduated 20 students from his ten-week course, who were awarded brand-new guitars.
Outside teaching, you can find him playing in pit orchestras for musicals, church bands, mariachis, jazz big bands, and performing background music at country clubs, wineries, wedding venues, and private events. Earlier this year, he became a brand ambassador for Alhambra Guitars, a Spanish manufacturer with a rich heritage. Nick can be seen demonstrating their different models on Sweetwater.com.
Ethan Derner
Film, 1993
Ethan is embarking on his fourth career, following his first three as a motion picture editor, college faculty instructor, and currently a self-employed electrician and carpenter. After an initial open studio experience over 10 years ago, he fully immersed himself in the world of glass in December of 2025. Specifically, he is focused on studio glass art, having received instruction from the University of Oregon and Firehouse Glass. Ethan plans to return to Tacoma, Washington, in May of 2026 for continued private instruction at Area 253, in addition to revisiting the hot shop at the Museum of Glass. His present focus is on creating forms to enshrine the ashes of loved ones. Looking ahead, he has designs for free-form slumped sculptures and large-scale kiln-formed pieces.
Kimberly Nguyen
Philosophy, 2020
When Kimberly was pursuing her BA in Philosophy at Humboldt, her intentions were to continue on to law school to become an attorney. Instead, she made the decision to attend nursing school. Her training in critical thinking made nursing school much easier than she could have imagined. Kimberly now practices as a registered nurse and loves it! She has a feeling that her cravings for knowledge won’t stop here, though. She owes so much to the Philosophy Department for helping her build a solid foundation in her thinking and, consequently, opening her mind to what she can achieve. Kimberly can’t wait to see what the future has in store!
Jonah Simmons
Art, 2021
Jonah Simmons earned a BA in Studio Art with a minor in Art History. He is currently an M.F.A. candidate in Ceramics at Fort Hays State University and will be presenting his thesis exhibition, Vessel of Survival, at the Moss-Thorns Gallery of Art from July 14–17, 2026, with a reception on July 17 from 6–8 PM. This body of work explores the human condition through the lens of chronic illness, specifically Jonah's experience with Type 1 diabetes, using ceramic sculpture and experimental glaze processes as a metaphor for internal rupture, adaptation, and survival. See more at www.jonahsimmons.com
Jonathan Souza
Music, 2001
Jonathan Souza, Cal Poly Humboldt Class of 2001 (Humboldt State University), earned his B.A. in Music Education and has built a distinguished career as a music educator, arts leader, conductor, and advocate for equitable access to arts education. He currently serves the Gilroy Unified School District in dual leadership roles as Teacher on Special Assignment for Arts and Music in Schools Initiative Support while also continuing his longstanding work running music education and choral programs at Gilroy High School.
In Gilroy Unified, Souza has played a central role in advancing arts education at both the school site and district levels. He facilitated the development of the district’s TK-12 Strategic Arts Plan, guiding a collaborative process that engaged educators, administrators, families, and community stakeholders in shaping a shared vision for arts education. He also helped lead the plan through adoption, marking an important step in strengthening and sustaining high-quality arts learning opportunities for all students across the district.
Souza also helped spearhead Gilroy High School’s successful application for the 2026 California Department of Education Exemplary Arts Education Program recognition. His leadership in that process included coordinating data collection, organizing evidence across disciplines, shaping the program narrative, and working closely with colleagues to highlight the rigor, impact, and breadth of arts education at the school. His work reflects a deep commitment to advocacy, collaboration, and the transformative power of the arts in public education.
Alongside his educational leadership, Souza recently reached a major professional milestone with his Carnegie Hall debut as a guest conductor with MidAmerica Productions, leading a festival chorus and the New England Symphonic Ensemble. The appearance reflected both his artistic excellence and his enduring commitment to building meaningful musical experiences that connect performers, audiences, and communities across generations.
Throughout his career, Souza has received numerous school site and district honors in recognition of his teaching and leadership. His broader professional awards include the 2008 North Coast Section California Music Educators Association Music Educator of the Year Award, the 2010 Wells Fargo Outstanding Educator Award from the Humboldt County Office of Education, and the 2022 Arts Leadership Award from the Santa Clara County Office of Education.
Whether conducting, mentoring teachers, leading strategic planning, or advocating for expanded access to the arts, Jonathan Souza’s work is grounded in the belief that music and arts education are essential to student growth, belonging, and success. His career reflects the values of artistry, leadership, and service, and the foundation he received at Cal Poly Humboldt continues to inform and inspire his work.
Lance Torgerson
Geography, 2004
Lance currently works for Off Duty Officers as a security guard and with California State Parks as a Park Aide. His location is Merced, California. He's had several jobs after his 2004 graduation with a BA in Geography in the Eureka/Arcata area and, more recently, in the Central Valley in Merced, CA.
Kory Lamberts
Environmental Studies, 2021
Kory came to Humboldt as a transfer student after turning away from a possible career as a football player. Like many students, he had multiple interests, and used his time in college to find a path to combine them. Since graduating, Kory worked with a nonprofit, Negus in Nature, that focused on building bridges between Black communities and natural spaces. While in college and working with Negus in Nature, he became an avid scuba diver, joining the National Association of Black SCUBA Divers, and received multiple opportunities to participate in dives focused on connecting Black people to their histories and connections with the ocean. In 2024, Kory founded the Aquatic Futures Foundation, which he designed to create equitable access to ocean science education and careers, empowering the next generation of marine scientists to build a sustainable future for our oceans and world. Kory also serves as the Chair of the Next Gen Committee for the National Association of Black Scuba Divers (NABS) and a member of Aqua Corps, where he helps teach diving & water safety to communities that have been historically excluded from the conversation. Kory also spearheaded the USC Wrigley’s Scientific Dive Discovery program, where he started his work of training scientific divers collegially over two years. He is expanding aquatic education and safety through community-driven collaborations with organizations that have the same mission, like Diving With a Purpose (DWP), Diverseafy, and the Empowher Institute. A profile about him was written in Humboldt Now: https://now.humboldt.edu/news/finding-belonging-water
Sydney Verga
Environmental Studies, 2021
Sydney Verga graduated from Cal Poly Humboldt in 2021 and moved to San Diego, California, in 2023 to start law school. Now, they are almost done with their final semester at University of San Diego School of Law. They are actively involved in the campus community and extracurricular activities, including but not limited to competing as part of the Appellate Moot Court team and being Co-Chair and Technology Coordinator for the student-run USD Law Name and Gender Marker Change Clinic. Since starting law school, Sydney has worked as an intern for Legal Aid Society of San Diego's Pro Bono team and a law clerk for the California Department of Toxic Substances Control Office of Legal Counsel. Sydney is currently a law clerk for Singleton Schreiber, a client-centered law firm specializing in mass torts/multi-district litigation, on the Environmental Litigation and Policy Team. They will graduate from USD in May 2026 and sit for the California Bar Exam in July 2026.